by James Scott

Twenty people have been taken to hospital after a minibus crashed on the M20 this morning.

The vehicle was involved in a smash with a 4x4 between junction 8 and junction 9 just before 9.15am.

Firefighters used hydraulic cutters to remove the rear doors of the minibus and seats before carrying out three of the passengers - all with neck pain - on spinal boards.

Paramedics treated 17 others who were suffering from various minor injuries.

The injured, all of whom were adults, were taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

The crash happened on the London-bound carriageway between the white minibus and black 4x4 vehicle.

Three fire engines from Ashford, Lenham and Maidstone - along with several ambulances - were called to the scene.

Firefighter Mark Thomas said: “I think there were 20 people in the minibus, 17 of which sustained some sort of injury, while three of them had c-spine injuries with soreness to their neck so they had to be removed on rigid spinal boards.

“The walking wounded were suffering from minor injuries like cuts and bruises. Fortunately, there were no major disasters.”